Creeping Fig, Climbing Fig (Ficus pumila)

New growth on Ficus pumila which I call fig ivy which I was not happy to see. I have tried to kill this plant for at least 12 years due to the damage it does to the brick and wood on my house. (San Antonio, Tx.)

I have always admired this plant, and I have some in a pot. Guess it is a good thing that I am in zone 6, or I would have it crawling all over my house, too. (Instead of the Hedera helix). This fig ivy is pretty on rock or stucco walls, but must be constantly thinned and pruned to keep from obliterating everything else. I have worked that pruning process in both Florida (outdoors) and in St. Louis (in the Climatron). Thanks for your comments, you probably just deterred me from planting it against an interior wall of my greenhouse.

I decided that I had to remove it after having to prune it every other month because it grows so fast. I am sorry to have to do it because it is a beautiful plant.Thanks for your comments. I'll try potting some probably in a hanging basket so that I can continue to enjoy its beauty and be able to more easily control its growth. It continues to grow in our usually mild winters. It does freeze back when temps fall into the middle or low 20s as I am sure that you know.

We had a powerful thunderstorm last night. I don't think it hailed. Hailstorms will be my next big worry followed by tornadoes. Most of my paperwhite blooms were knocked to the ground ecause there were so many on each stalk. I hope they will come back up after they dry off because they were really nice. The petals of course will be damaged. I may have to stake them which I don't want to do.

That sounds all too familiar...the hail and heavy rain damage. We usually get 2 or 3 good hailstorms a year, sometimes tornadoes in the area, too. Many times my heavier daffs and also the peonies are face down in the mud, and they never fully recuperate. But, we must have rain, so I can't complain too much. I usually cage the peonies, but even with that support, they get so heavy with rain, they often droop and even occasionally break their stems.
I had 2 crocuses blooming yesterday! And my hellebore is sending up its bloomstalks pretty quickly now. Spring is never very predictable here, but it is running pretty late this year.

I was happy to see the rain. We are still behind in rainfall, but the wildflowers are coming up now. I planted lovely little crocuses in amongst my tall Mexican petunia 2 years ago, but a wild animal dug them up last year searching for grubs and they did no reappear this year. It is so fascinating watching bulbs emerge and bloom. It always seems like magic to me. I am glad that yours are coming up to provide you some joy after your harsh winter.

Who has any good idea as to how to take fig ivey off two stories of a stucco surface in Florida? I have cut the plant's base. It is dead and dried out for two-months, but the tentacles seem so tenacious. Any clue as to how to get it down without pulling all the stucco out? My homeowners association is about to fine me for such an eyesore, but I can find NO one who knows how to remove it. help if you can.

I thought I had killed it , but it is back again. :o( I have tried all kinds of ways to get it off. At least mine is in an area where I can access it more easily than you can access yours. I have used a stiff bristle brush (took hours). A water pressure washer that you can adjust to a low pressure setting might work. But if you are not careful, the stucco will be damaged. If it has dried, the "roots' where it was attached may not totally be removed. I have always tried to remove mine when it is green. Let me think on this some more. I feel your frustration.

I have had the most success removing it from brick with a very stiff bristled brush. I have also used a metal scaper, but I would think this would damage the stucco. I am so sorry that you have this problem too.

I was recently told that this plant would not grow a lot in a year, that it would be perfect for the front of my office building. Since I see a lot of you disagree what do you suggest I plant. It is going to be in full sun and I would like something that does not flower.